Tampon test method and apparatus

Abstract

A method for in vitro testing of an absorbent article includes the steps of inserting the absorbent article into a radiolucent simulated body cavity, placing the radiolucent simulated body cavity into a radiolucent pressure chamber, placing the radiolucent pressure chamber into a radiological device, pressurizing the radiolucent pressure chamber to a predetermined pressure, providing test liquid through the test liquid port and to the absorbent article, acquiring data relating to the absorbent article and the test liquid via the radiological device and an associated computing device, and analyzing the acquired data. The radiological pressure chamber includes a simulated body cavity arranged and configured to accommodate the absorbent article, a test liquid port, and a pressure control system. The radiolucent test device has at least one radio scanning element rotatable about radiolucent test device support having the pressure chamber disposed thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for in vitro testing of an absorbent article comprising:
 a) a radiolucent pressure chamber comprising:
 i) a radiolucent simulated body cavity arranged and configured to accommodate the absorbent article; 
 ii) a test liquid port; and 
 iii) a pressure control system; 
   b) a radiological device for collecting radiological data from the absorbent article having:
 i) a radiolucent test device support capable of accommodating the radiolucent pressure chamber; and 
 ii) at least one radio scanning element rotatable about the radiolucent test device support; and 
   c) a computing device operatively connected to the radiological device having a program for analyzing the data collected by the radiological device.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the radiolucent simulated body cavity comprises a vaginal model. 
     
     
         3 . A method for in vitro testing of an absorbent article comprising the steps of:
 a) inserting the absorbent article into a radiolucent simulated body cavity;   b) placing the radiolucent simulated body cavity into a radiolucent pressure chamber comprising;
 i) a simulated body cavity arranged and configured to accommodate the absorbent article; 
 ii) a test liquid port; and 
 iii) a pressure control system; 
   c) placing the radiolucent pressure chamber onto a radiolucent test device support in a radiological device for collecting radiological data from the absorbent article having at least one radio scanning element rotatable about the radiolucent test device support;   d) pressurizing the radiolucent pressure chamber to a predetermined pressure;   e) providing test liquid through the test liquid port and to the absorbent article;   f) acquiring data relating to the absorbent article and the test liquid via the radiological device and an associated computing device; and   g) analyzing the acquired data.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the radiolucent simulated body cavity comprises a vaginal model. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein predetermined pressure of the radiolucent pressure chamber is between about 20 to about 50 cm H 2 O.